Best VR gifts – the Cheapest, plus the Best Invention of 2016

This post laser beams in on two of the best VR (virtual reality) gifts – the cheapest and the most inventive. We’ve all been talking about VR for years, but for a while, it seemed it was never going to become an integrated part of our entertainment worlds. Well, I am happy to say that we are finally there – VR is now available and accessible, to transform our movie-watching and game-playing experiences into awesome VR experiences. If you want to give the gift of VR, the prices and choices can be overwhelming. So we have focused on just two top choices – the $13.99 Google Cardboard VR, and the $500 Sony PlayStation VR.

Despite the huge difference in price, both of these are excellent VR gifts, which is why we have voted them the top two best VR gifts for this season.

Why are these two the best VR gifts? Well, Google Cardboard VR offers the cheapest possible VR gift option, yet it actually works really well as a fun toy and as a great introduction to VR.

Google Cardboard VR offers the cheapest possible VR gift option, yet it actually works really well as a fun toy and as a great introduction to VR

The Sony PlayStation VR is a lot more expensive – BUT it was also just voted top invention of 2016 by Time magazine.

The Sony PlayStation VR was voted top invention of 2016 by Time magazine. It’s also the best looking by far of all the VR headsets that have so far been produced. Here it is from three different angles

Plus, the Sony PlayStation VR is a whole lot LESS expensive than many other VR sets, is incredibly comfortable, and can be used by anyone who has a PlayStation. All of this makes the Sony PlayStation VR a great choice if you want to give someone the gift of endless hours of awesome fun.

Yes, I did say awesome! When was the last time you went “Whoa!” in an awed voice while watching a movie, playing a video game, or doing pretty much anything, really? These new VR units have that effect on everyone, from kids to seniors.As you can see in this video, where a 90-year-old woman gracefully and excitedly discovers VR.

That kind of excited reaction is pretty much priceless, in my opinion. And it also means that your VR gift will most likely be very memorable and very much appreciated, no matter who you give it to – your grandmother or your grandson.

I am not going to compare these two VR headsets feature for feature – given the price difference, that would just be plain unfair. Something that costs twenty dollars is just not going to be able to compete with something that costs five hundred dollars (unless perhaps the twenty-dollar thing was a puppy and the five-hundred dollar thing was a vacuum cleaner).

What I AM going to do is explain why either of these devices would make a great VR gift.

Google Cardboard VR fits the bill if you are looking for VR technology that is really cheap. It is by far the best cheap wearable technology gift available. Basically, Google Cardboard VR is a whole lot of fun and an introduction to the exciting world of VR – for less than $15! At first, I thought there must be a catch. But no, this is pretty simple stuff: Google wanted to test the waters with VR, and get developers started making VR apps. So they made Google Cardboard VR, which is exactly what it says: a VR device made out of cardboard.

Google Cardboard VR is cheap, it’s basic, and it works pretty well – giving users a chance to try out the exciting new world of VR, at a very low cost. You hold the unit on your head, slide your cell phone into it, and then experience what your cell phone is projecting in a wonderful new way. (The unit is compatible with most iOS and Android phones.)

So, Google Cardboard VR is a wearable VR unit made out of cardboard. In its most basic form, you have to hold it on your head, while you take a look at the wonders of VR. We are now at Google Cardboard VR Version 2, which is new in that it accommodates newer, larger cell phones (up to 6 inches).

You cannot really go wrong for twenty dollars, so the only hard thing is to decide who to buy it from. Many retailers have taken the Google technology and added on really useful extras – such as head bands, so that you don’t have to hold it in place, and nose and head pads for increased comfort. I could not decide which unit to buy, so I went with the #1 best seller. Usually, there is a good reason why items are #1.

When I first unpacked the bits of cardboard and the elastic band (!) I was not very optimistic. Plus, it took me a while to figure out how to assemble it. The instructions look impressive at first sight, but turn out not to be very helpful. To be honest, I don’t think I would have managed to assemble it if I did not have a secret weapon – a 16-year-old daughter. She helped me to figure it out, and we actually had some fun doing it. Oddly, the most fun we have had together for ages. It’s fun when your kids start to be so smart that they can help you out!

The version I am reviewing here comes with a simply headband that works remarkably well to keep the VR headset on your head without having to hold it.

Finally I got to put my phone into it to try it out. I have an iPhone 6, which fits just fine. The minute I put my new Google Cardboard VR on, I suddenly realized what VR means – that amazing feeling of being immersed in a world that is in fact completely virtual.

It’s not really there, and you know it’s not really there – but it’s such fun to pretend it’s there! As the 90-year-old woman above said when she tried VR: “Oh, this is something else, and I’m still sitting where I was!”

VR enables you to experience things that would otherwise be impossible. Huge numbers of app developers have responded to Google’s initiative by developing apps that work with it. For example, the Bohemian Rhapsody Experience enables you to experience the sensation of being onstage with Freddy Mercury’s band, complete with audio and visual components.

Unboxing and Assembling Google Cardboard VR

When I first unpacked the bits of cardboard and the elastic band (!) I was not very optimistic. I actually heard a hilarious story about a guy who unpacked his Google Cardboard VR, then went out for a short while. Later, he couldn’t find it. Turned out his wife thought the pieces were the packaging, and had thrown it all in the garbage!

In any event, it took me a while to figure out how to assemble my new Google Cardboard VR. The instructions look impressive at first sight, but turn out not to be very helpful. To be honest, I don’t think I would have managed to assemble it if I did not have a secret weapon – a 16-year-old daughter who is really good at that kind of thing. She helped me to figure it out, and we actually had some fun doing it. Oddly, the most fun we have had together for ages. It’s fun when your kids start to be so smart that they can help you out! We also had fun making the video below, which shows unboxing and assembling the Google Cardboard VR.

How does the Magnet on Google Cardboard VR Work?

One of the great things about the Google Cardboard is that two simple magnets work as an input device (e.g. a mouse click or Enter), just by cleverly interacting with your phone. It amazed me. I was watching an app that required a mouse click, and I thought, “How am I going to do that without taking the phone out of the headset?” Without thinking it would actually work, I slid the magnet – and it worked! Just amazing.

This is how the magnet button works: Your phone most likely has a magnetic sensor in the back. These are there to work with smart covers that put the phone to sleep, or to sense docking stations. When you slide the magnet on the Google Cardboard in its groove, it then automatically slips back into place because of the other magnet on the opposite side. Your phone’s magnetic sensor sensing the movement of the magnet, and interprets this as a button press, which it then applies to whatever input your app happens to be waiting for, such as a mouse click or pressing the enter button. Simply brilliant, and it makes the simple Google Cardboard way more versatile for apps.

Bottom Line on Google Cardboard VR

The bottom line I found: Google Cardboard VR lets you give the gift of VR for the price of a stocking stuffer. And if you give Google Cardboard VR as a gift – you can be sure it will be the most talked about cheap gift of all, and you will be remembered for being so original. It’s just such a remarkable little gadget. And for this price, you really cannot go wrong.

OK, so this is the gift I would have pretty nearly KILLED for as a kid. This is like all my childhood dreams have come to life in 3-D surround sound and 3-D surround vision. Even if your gift recipient never plays any games with it (which would be like never taking an Aston Martin out of first gear), they will STILL have an awesome time watching movies with it.

The Sony PlayStation VR comes packaged with all the cords and cables you need, plus a demo disk with a whole lot of VR experiences and videos

With a Sony PlayStation VR on your head, you can sit down on your couch, not bothering anyone (such as someone you love who happens to be watching Bachelorette), and be transported to another living room – only a much better one, where you are watching a giant version of, say, Star Wars or Star Trek. The screen appears so large that it is like an IMAX experience, right in your own head.

When you are wearing a Sony PlayStation VR, the screen appears so large that it is like an IMAX experience, right in your own head. Yet it is actually quite sleek, and super light and comfortable. You can adjust the fit at the back, as easily as adjusting a bike helmet

Or, you can just go and stand in a corner and make quietly awed noises as you become Batman and walk into your very own bat cave (using the popular game, Batman: Arkham). And there you are, having an awesome experience without bothering your significant other at all.

Some people worry that VR is going to isolate people more, but on the plus side, I think it is going to save a whole lot of marriages!

What do you need to own to use a Sony PlayStation VR?

The person you are buying this for must at least have a PlayStation; and to interact in virtual space in games, must also have a PlayStation camera. On the plus side, the headset is super light and comfy, and can be adjusted to accommodate glasses, if your intended gift recipient wears glasses. The set comes bundled with a whole lot of VR and video experiences on a demo disk, and many more free apps can also be downloaded. Beyond that, your lucky gift recipient can play whatever PlayStation games they already own, or buy some of the games that are really awesome for VR experiences, such as Robinson: The Journey, which lets users explore a new world as if they are actually there. How else could anyone possibly have such an experience?

What can you view with a VR device?

The number of VR apps and videos available for free just keeps growing every day. For a start, you can consult a good post about the best VR apps. You can also go to YouTube and search for VR videos. What I did was to search for some VR videos and make a VR playlist on YouTube.

You can go to YouTube and search for videos to watch on your VR headset. I really liked this video, which is a relaxing meander across the universe, with great sound. However, note that it is 3D, not immersive 360 degrees. It was also a little disconcerting that I was getting really relaxed, floating over Mars – and my journey was suddenly interrupted by a short car advert!

What is the Difference between 3D and 360 Degrees Viewing?

Basically, 3D consists of projecting two different images to your two eyes, giving you a 3D perspective that includes depth – making possible that really cool feeling you get in 3D movies, when asteroids hurtle towards your head (well, I like it).

3D consists of projecting two different images to your two eyes, giving you a 3D perspective that includes depth. For example, this is what the Journey Through the Galaxy 3D video looks like when it’s just on your phone. Pop your phone into your VR headset, and this odd view suddenly becomes a convincing 3D experience

360 degrees is a big step further than 3D, because you are immersed in what feels like a completely new world. You can look in any direction, and the virtual world continues all around, above and below you. Many of the videos on YouTube are merely 3D.

The best app I found for experiencing the whole immersive virtual reality experience is Within – VR (Virtual Reality). This free app includes a whole range of short VR experiences, that really give you an overview of what is now possible with virtual reality. You are sure to find at least one that you like. I really loved being able to re-experience being on the streets of New York, and actually being able to look UP at the architecture and the tops of the buildings!

Personally I find the immersive 360 degrees apps much more fun, intense, and exciting. They lend themselves to horror movie experiences, so there are quite a few of those available. I have to admit I have not tried those. I find ordinary horror movies too scary to deal with, so I don’t think I want to try being immersed in one.

It would be hard to go wrong with either of these VR gifts. Either way, you will be giving the gift of an awe-inspiring VR experience. In terms of price, you can go low or go high – either way, your gift recipient is in for an awesome experience. It is very likely that the Google Cardboard VR will turn out to be a “starter” VR headset. But you will have the honor of having started her or him on the exciting journey into virtual reality. The future has arrived, and it looks like a whole lot of fun!

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Welcome to our Wearable Tech Blog!

Welcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, and I spend my time testing and reviewing wearable tech (a tough job, but somebody has to do it). This blog features product reviews, news, and advice for people like you who want to use wearable tech - but who want to do their research and be really clear about what they are doing and what they are buying.Hi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe). I share Joe's love of wearable tech, and I love trying them out and reviewing them on this blog.

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